BERLIN -- A Russian court has sentenced the three members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot to two years each after being found guilty of hooliganism for performing a protest song in a Moscow cathedral in February.

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, have argued their "punk prayer" was a political act in protest of the Russian Orthodox Church's support of President Vladimir Putin.

In handing down her judgment, Judge Marina Syrova stated that the trio had "expressed no repentance" and "offended the feelings of believers."

The women "committed a serious breach of public order, motivated by religious hatred" and engaged in "provocative and insulting acts in a religious building," she added.

The sentences include time already served.

Lawyers for the women said Friday they would appeal the verdict.

A growing number of Pussy Riot supporters gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict.

The women have attracted the support of such high-profile international artists as Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bjork and Madonna.

In a recent statement to the women, McCartney wrote: "I would like you to know that I very much hope the Russian authorities would support the principle of free speech for all their citizens and not feel that they have to punish you for your protest."

On Thursday, Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, told the BBC's Russian Service the case should never have gone to trial, calling it "a completely pointless undertaking."

Amnesty International considers the artists prisoners of conscience.

The trial, and now the verdict, has brought worldwide attention to both the plight of the three young women from Pussy Riot and the cause of the Russian opposition that appeared almost overnight after Putin revealed last year that he would stand for a third term as president.

For Putin, who just two weeks ago while visiting the Olympics in London -- perhaps sensing the danger posed to Russia's reputation worldwide -- urged the court to show leniency, Pussy Riot is likely to long remain a symbol of the growing opposition to his authoritarian rule.